Wadi al-Muluk (Valley-of the Kings) is located in Upper Egypt where the ancient city of Thebes once stood: It was the burial site of nearly all of the kings of Dynasties 18 (circa-lS39-1295/l292 B.C.E.), 19 (circa 129,2-1190 B.C.E.), and 20 (circa 1190-1075 B.C.E.). There are sixty-two known tombs, and aside from monarchs ranging from Thutmose I to Ramesses X, two queens, some children of Ramesses II, and several high government officials also are interred there.

Fearing for the security of their funerary treasures, the kings of the New Kingdom (circa 1539-1075 B.C.E.) chose this valley in the western hills near Deir al Bahri because of its isolation. Each tomb is set deep into the mountainside and has a descending corridor with intermittent shafts to confuse poteritialthieves. At the end of the corridor is the...